AP compares Trump's meetings with Xi Jinping and Putin

Associated Press has compared the ceremonial welcomes US President Donald Trump gave Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.

Source: АР

Details: Xi Jinping arrived in Washington on the night of 23-24 September (Kyiv time). Trump personally met him at the foot of the aircraft steps, a gesture that is unusual, after senior officials from both countries agreed to extend their trade truce until January.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the extension of the truce – under which the two sides agreed to reduce tariffs and refrain from introducing new trade restrictions – in an interview with Fox News at the very moment Trump was meeting Xi at Joint Base Andrews near Washington.

AP noted that trade has become one of the main sources of tension in relations between the two superpowers, alongside issues involving artificial intelligence, Trump's conflict with Iran and China's claims over Taiwan. However, Xi Jinping's three-day visit is expected to be largely ceremonial, as evidenced by Trump's decision to meet the Chinese leader immediately after his landing rather than wait for him to arrive at the White House.

The welcoming ceremony also included a flyover by two B-1 bombers, a guard of honour with different branches of the military represented and the display of the flags and the playing of the national anthems of both countries.

During the meeting, Trump sought to replicate the pomp with which he was welcomed in China earlier this year. Xi was not at the airport to greet Trump. However, a red carpet was rolled out for Trump's Air Force One in Beijing.

The AP report noted that the long red carpet laid out for Xi Jinping's arrival was reminiscent of a similarly exceptionally long carpet that the US rolled out for Putin when he landed at a US Air Force base in Alaska last summer to attend a meeting aimed at finding ways to end Russia's war against Ukraine.

The two leaders are expected to discuss substantive issues in greater detail on 24 September, after a welcoming ceremony at the White House and a military parade. They will later exchange toasts at a formal dinner attended by technology industry leaders, including Jensen Huang of Nvidia and Elon Musk of SpaceX.

On 25 September, Xi and his wife will return to the White House for a private tea with the Trumps and then visit the National Archives in Washington together. The White House said they will view historical documents highlighting the relationship between the two countries.

Background: Upon arriving in the US for his visit, Xi Jinping said that the US and China "should be partners, not rivals".

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